'The Ministry have resigned, that is certain, and is all
that is certain yet. According to the most probable accounts, Mr. Gladstone, after a Cabinet Council, at which some difference of opinion was expressed, placed his resignation in her Majesty's hands. The Queen, preferring a dissolution to the loss of a Minister hitherto supported by so great a majority, advised a reconsideration, but the Premier, after a second Cabinet Council, adhered to his decision. The facts were briefly announced to Parliament on Thursday, but nothing was said as to the person whom Mr. Gladstone recommended, and Mr. Disraeli had not up ito Friday night determined to form a Ministry. The probable ex- planation of those two-facts is that there exists a difficulty about the leadership of the Tory party, that it may be offered—of course with Mr. Disraeli's consent—to Lord Derby, and that Lord Derby, having been at Nice, could scarcely reach England till this morning. Much will probably depend on his decision, As, if he declines office, the Liberals must huddle up the Session and dissolve, while, if he accepts it, he will probably try to make some notable stroke with Mr. Lowe's considerable surplus. We %live stated elsewhere reasons for believing that Lord Derby will accept, but we'are conscious that they are modified by a strong feeling of hope. It is time to see if the Tories are in a majority, as they say, and they ought to make the appeal to the country which they urge for themselves. Why are Liberals to do their work ?
